AJ Spellacy shines in first Blackhawks game of Prospect Showcase

AJ Spellacy had a night to remember during the Chicago Blackhawks opening game of the Tom Kurvers Prospect Showcase. While the Hawks ended up falling 4-3 in OT to the Blues, there is still some positive takeaways for Spellacy and the Hawks.

Before diving into the game, let’s look back. The Hawks drafted Spellacy in the third round of the 2024 NHL Draft. The 18 year old forward played this past season with the Windsor Spitfires of the OHL. In 67 games, Spellacy registered 38 points including 21 goals.

Spellacy followed a unique path to the Blackhawks. He played football in high school and had five NCAA Division 1 scholarship offers. Luckily for Blackhawks fans, Spellacy chose to pursue hockey and signed with Windsor.

While Spellacy might not be playing football anymore, he displayed his physicality during the Blackhawks loss to the Blues.

“I think it starts with my preparation before the game,” Spellacy said after the game. “I was kind of locked in, and going into the game just trying to use my speed and be physical.”

Spellacy registered the Hawks second goal of the game to give the team a 2-1 lead near the end of the first period. While Spellacy’s physicality might be what endures him to Blackhawks fans in a few years, it is his speed that separates him from the bunch.

AJ Spellacy certainly is making a name for himself during the Blackhawks Prospect Camp.

He scores to give the #Blackhawks a 2-1 lead. pic.twitter.com/JswcLPiF69

— Jim Lynch (@JimRLynch) September 14, 2024

The Blackhawks have a lot of speed and skill in the farm system. Spellacy’s physicality definitely will be an asset in the future. At the draft, Spellacy said his favorite player was Tom Wilson. While opposing teams’ fans might not be a fan of Wilson, he did bring a lot to the Capitals during their Stanley Cup run in 2018. Spellacy can be that physical presence in Chicago. Spellacy spoke about the importance of physicality to his game while addressing the media at the draft.

“I think that’s a big part,” Spellacy said.  “Goes with wearing the other team down. If you play that hard, you get in their head. If they’re scared of you they’re not going to do their best against you.”

Late in the third period, Spellacy took a charging penalty while Chicago was on the power play. While addressing the media following the loss, Spellacy spoke on the penalty.

“That’s my game sometimes it just goes that way,” he said. “I don’t think there anything I can do about that call at the end.”

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